Hours after protesting doctors rejected the health secretary’s proposal to hold talks with a 10-member delegation, they have once again been invited for negotiations – this time by the chief secretary.
In an email sent to the protesters, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant extended an invitation to a “delegation of 12-15”. This came hours after the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front – the outfit leading the protests against the rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital – wrote insisting that the delegation should comprise “25-35 representatives”.
This, they said, was meant to represent interests of several medical institutions in the state.
“Once again, as another opportunity, we invite your delegation – preferably consisting of 12-15 colleagues – to join us for a discussion at 6.00 pm today, i.e. 11.09.2024, in Nabanna,” the email from the chief secretary said, adding: “A list of the members of your delegation may please be intimated by email”.
The email also urged the doctors to resume their duties, saying: “The common people have been deprived of your vital services, compassionate care, and the healing touch over the past 32 days. Keeping this aspect in view, the Hon’ble Supreme Court… directed that junior doctors must resume duties by 5 p.m. on September 10, 2024… Unfortunately, it has not been adhered to so far”.
In their email to the CM on Tuesday, the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front sent a detailed proposal on the six main points they want to be discussed. The protestors also called the government’s email an “insult”, saying that it was sent from the ID of the Health Secretary, one of the officials they are demanding the resignation of.
The mail went on to list the doctors’ central demands: expediting investigation and trial, action against Sandip Ghosh, the controversial ex-principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital; dismissal of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and action against DCP North and Central and the ensuring security in all hospitals and government healthcare centres and “ending threat culture” against doctors.
“The whole state of West Bengal is eagerly waiting for this meeting. We know that your administration conducts serious meetings in an open manner, with live telecast to maintain transparency amongst all parties. We expect the same from this meeting as well,” the doctors’ outfit said in the mail.
The rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital and Medical College on August 9 has sparked massive protests in the state, with several junior doctors going on strike to demand justice and better work conditions. The protests, now ongoing for over a month across West Bengal, have crippled medical services across the state, with the Supreme Court on Monday setting an ultimatum for junior doctors to join work by 5 pm on Tuesday.
In response, the protesting doctors in response had set a deadline of 5 pm for the state government to accept their five demands, including the resignation of key officials. When these demands were not met, junior doctors decided to hold a march from Karunamoyee to the state health headquarters Swasthya Bhawan in Salt Lake to hold a sit-in protest there. By Tuesday night, families of several patients had joined the protest.
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